Tire.



l. J. WEBSTER.

Patented Dea. 28, 1915 TIRE.

APPLICATION man MAY 14. 1914.

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entre crearon.

IRAJ'. WEBSTER, 0F IAVERHILL, .MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE'ASSIGN- MENTS, T RELIANCE A.' C. COMPANY, INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.; A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

and useful mprovements in rl`ires, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such'as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

v .This invention relates to tires, and with regard to vcertain more specific features thereof, to pneumatic tires or the like, para tioularly. to tires composed of rubber.

One of the objects of the invention is the vprovision of a simple and practical tire of the puncture proof type.

Another object of this invention is to pro- Vide a tire or inner tube/of a `high degree of durabilityand one which fis constructed to kbe readily adjustable relative to its shoe or,l

outer tube.' l

. It vis another object ofthe invention to provide simple, reliable and otherwise improved means whereby the material of the tread portion of the tiremay be constricted or held compressed. Y

The invention also comprehends ,the con? venient and epective retaining in a practical manner of the relative positions of the constricted elements.

Other objects will bein part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of' parts which will be exemplified` in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

Referring now to the drawings wherein is shown one of the various possible embodi ments of the invention,-Figure 1 is a view in transverseA section of a mandrel having built thereon a tire comprising certain fea tures of the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viewof the tire shown in F ig. l, the saine being removed from the mandrel; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to-Fig. 2showing the position assumed by the tread portion just previous to being turned inside out, the dotted lines showing the edges .moved part way in the operation of turning inside out, in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a transverse construction and TIRE.

Specification `of Letters Patent. Patntgd mm3. 2g? i915 f Application led May 14, 1914.

Serial No. 838,457.

sectional View showing the position assumed by thetread portion of the tire when the severed edges are lapped together' on the reverse side of saidtread portion and vulcanized; Fig. 5 is a vtransverse sectional vview showingthe tire'inflated lin its shoe;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the constricting member; Fig. 7 is a section on the line. 7-7 of Fig, 6; and Fig. 8 'is a view in side elevation of the circular -niandiel on which the tire is originally built.

Referring now more4 particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference char? acters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, there is indicated at l a con-' tinuous circular mandrel, preferably also circularvin cross-sectional peripheral shape.

An inner tube 2 of rubber or similar .material 1s constructed upon the mandrel 1,l and has a tread.portion 3 of substantially greater thickness than the 'remainder of said tube. ln the course of the construction of the tube 2 upon the mandrel l, and before the vulcanizing process, an annular strip 4 of fabric is embedded in the tread portion remote from the outersurface of the tube. The

fabric tis provided along its edges with strain-resistingl members 5 and 6, the specific purposes of which will be hereinafter described.

After vthe tube 2 has been properly formed with the constricting strip at properly enibedded in the tread portionv the .whole is vulcanized, and after the vulcanizing process the tube is slit, circumferentially alon'g its inner side, as indicated at r in Figs. 2 and 3, proyiding free ends or edges 8 and 9 which may be moved by reason of the elasticity of the material, and the tube 2 may be sprung from the mandrel. It is then de-` vsirable to vulcanize the edges 8 and 9 to form a circumferential ioint or' union, rendering the tube air-tight, but beforevulcanizing these edges the same are moved in a direction indicated by the dotted lines and the arrows in Fig. 3 untiltheyare brought 'together on th'e opposite side of the tread'l. l

portion 3, invwhich latter position vulcanized together (Fig. 4l).

they are Itis toA benoted that in the construction.

of the tube 2 upon the mandrel 1 the 4v.fabric i orconsti1icting strip l is closelyadjaentithh inner surface of said tube, that is, near the mandrel. lit is to be further noted that when the severed edges-8 and 9 are brought the space provided forfinflation. 'By uniting the severed ends S and on the reverse side of the tread, as has been described,I the Vcircumference of what was forineily the outer surface of the tread at a point 1l is imiterially reduced, for the reasontbat the fabric J; has slight yield and retains substantially its original circumference throughout the entire operation 'heretofore described. The reduced circumference compelled by the union of the severed edges finds its compensation in a compression of the rubber, it'be- .ing obvious, of course, that the greater compression occurs within the scope of the most reduced circumference and progressively depreciates toward the fabric 4.. lt will be apparent that, while` a certain amount of longitudinal or peripheral compression or'constriction occurs by reason ofthecoiidilions previously set forth, a much greater amount of transverse compression or constriction of the tread portion takes place by reason of the material change in shape and transverse circumference of' the dense portion l() of the tread. A tire is therefore provided wherein both transverse and longitudinal or peripheral compression are secured, rendering the sa me proof against puncture to 'a much higher degree than a tire which has only one of these features.

lyinaking the tube on a circular endless mandrel, and then severing the tube and bringing the ends together as has been -described, :ij-much more lierfect tread is secured, there being no transverse lioint on the tube. 'ilhe tilbe may also be built practically tlie full size of the opening in the shoe to which itis to be fitted, for the reason that it is adapted to substantially conform with this openingV and has no slack portions to be filled out upon inflation, as in the case'of a tube built upon a straight mandrel, or upon any other mandrel which does not conform to the shape of' the opening in the shoe. 'lhis avoids the necessity of stretching, and consequently results in a much-longer life of the tube. 'It not being necessary to stretch the same to any substantial degree, and the annular continuous fabric strip 4L being embedded within said tube to prevent stretching,,it is found that the tube may be removed from the shoe at any time, and Ewhen it is desired to restore said tube to the shoe -the operator will" not be confronted with a surplus of inner tube. By this invfention a tube is constructed which may be ,taken out and restored at Will.

If there is any tendency for the fabric' the tube 2, this tendency Wll-have'its great/l est effect adjacent the annular edges 12 and 13 of said strip, and to minimize the poser bility of. separation atvth'ese edges isi tir;

function of the strain-resisting members 3-70 and 6. These members are preferablyjn theform of an, annular strip o f substantially firm rubber, .and in cross section are tapered from a wide portionat the center to a comparatively narrow edge on each side of the center. The edges 12 and r'13. ofithe fabric strip s are embedded within these ,rubber strips and extend abouthalf way through the latter, terminating opposite the wide cross sectional dimension of the same'. The 80 edges of the fabric are secured to this rubber strip preferably by frictionizing; that is, by fusing the rubber ofthe strips into the pores and weavings of the fabric, providing an eminently strong and lasting union. strain resisting strips 5 andfG are, of course, vulcanized with and form part of the finished tube, and these strips being of firmer rubber than that used for the remainder of the tube provide such a union with the fabric strip 4 that if there is any tendency for the fabric totear away from the tube f3 the separation is resisted both by the shape of these i'nei'nbers, and by their vulcanized association with the tube. To provide a strong joint between the fabric and the tube, especially along the edges of the fabric, is in?- portant, inasmuch as if the fabric stripbecomes loosened from the tube, the constricting effect of said strip is partially or Wholly destroyed. Another advantage of a longi. tudinal peripheral union, such as has been described, over a transverse union, is that the strain brought about by the Contact of the:

tire with the roadis parallel with the'line 105 of union rather than at right angles thereto. In the latter case all..`of said strain is tend-l ing directly to tear tile Ajoint apart. In the former case the lioint or sehm is longitudinal of the direction of strain and obviously not affected thereby. ,f

Referring to li`ig. 5 of thedrawings, the tube 2 ise shown as inflated in its position within the shoe 14 and the transverse'constricting effect hereinbefore described will ing away to a certain extent with -the possibility of the edges of the fabric separating" from the tube.

.By employing a medium of rubber and frictionizmg the same with the fabric andv then vulcanizing the same,withthe tube the whole is practicallyfused oi.,hei'ineticallyf Joined, and the possibility ofseparation is reduci-ed to a minimum, if not'absolutely ob. viate v It will be apparent from theforegoiiig ,130 i The 85 0 'or y.showninjthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in aT limiting sense. i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a device of the nature described, in

combination, a rubberV tube having a tread portion, a strip of fabric associated with said tread portion and relatively fixed therewith to hold said portion compressed, and means comprising-a rubber strip associated with an edge of said fabric adapted to resist -strains tending to cause the latter to be loosened rela/tive to said tube. i

In a device of the nature described, in combination, a rubber tube having a. tread portion, a strip of fabric associated with said tread portion and relatively fixed there- 1 with to hold said portion compressed, and

'means comprising a rubber strip friction- LA fized with an edge of said fabric adapted to resist strains tending to cause the latter to be loosened relative to said tube.

'In-ia device of the nature described, in

combination, a 'rubber-tube having a tread T portion',"fa"' strip of fabric associated with *said tread portion and relatively fixed therewith to hold said portion compressed, and 'pa-portion of rubber frictionizedwith opposite edges of said fabric to resist strains tending'to cause the latter to be loosened ,relative to saidtube. f

' 4:, in a device of the nature described, in combination, a rubber tube having a tread 'portioin'a strip of fabric associated with said tread portion and relatively fixed therewith to hold said portion compressed, and a portion of firmer rubber frictionizedwith opposite edges of said fabric adapted to prevent loosening of said fabric relative to said tube. i

5. ln a. device of the nature described, in combination, a tube having a rubber tread portion and a portion of unrestrained rubber, an annular strip of fabric embedded in said tread portion tending to constrict a part of said tread portion, and means comprising a rubber strip associated with an edge of said fabric adapted to resist strains tending to cause the latter to be loosened lrelative to said tube.

G. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a tube having a rubber tread portion and a portion `of unrestrained rubber, an annular strip of fabric embedded in said tread portion tending to constrict a part of said tread portion, and means comprising a portion of firmer rubber frictionized with oppositeedges of said fabric adapted to prevent loosening of said fabricrelatlve to said tube.

7. In a device of the nature described, in combination, an annular tube of rubber having a tread portion extending continuously and a portion of unrestrained rubber, an annular strip of fabric associated with said tread portion adapted upon inflation of the tube to hold the rubber in said tread portion compressed in a transverse and in a circumferential direction, and means comprising a portion of rubber frictionized with' an edge of said fabric adapted to prevent loosening of said fabric relative to said tube.

In a device of the nature described, in combination, an annular tube of rubber having a tread portion eptending continuously and a portion of unrestrained rubber, an

'annular strip of fabric associated with saidV tread portion adapted upon inflation of the tube 'to hold the rubber in said tread portion compressed in a transverse and in a circumferential direction, and means comprising an annular strip of firm rubber hermetically embedding an edge of said fabric adapted to be heimetically associated with the rubber of said tube.

In testimony whereof affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses. v

lRA J. WEBSTER. Vvlitnesses ROBERT D. T1msn, JAMES -fl'. MCVEY. 

